Portable urinal



Oct. 11 1949. RIBEIRQ ETAL 2,484,356

I PORTABLE URINAL Filed D60. 18, 1947 4 Sheets-Sheet l Oct. 11, 1949. L. P. RIBEIRO arm. 3

PORTABLE URINAL Filed Dec. 18, 1947 Sheets-Sheet z Oct. 11, 1949. L. i=1 RIBEIRO ETAL PORTABLE URINAL 4 Shets-Sheet 5 Filed Dec. 18, 1947 I Qvwwww, LouisPIPzZeiro &

Hamel VflPibeiz'o;

00L 1], 1949. L, mag-1 0 ET'AL 2,484,356

PORTABLE URINAL Filed Dec. 18, 1947 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Hmel pmlzelro;

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LouisPEibeiro & 6

Patented Oct. 11, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PORTABLE URINAL Louis I. Ribeiro and Hasel W. Ribeiro,

Saylorsburg, Pa.

Application December 18, 1947, Serial No. 792,440 Claims. (01. 12s -295) This invention relates to portable urinals and more particularly to such devices as are adapted for use on infants to reduce the number of diapers in daily use on the infant.

In using diapers on an infant the vast majority of clean diapers are necessary due to the wetting of the diapers rather than due to actual soiling. This creates a tremendous burden in laundering and sterilizing the diapers for each use, in maintaining constant attention of the child in changing the, diapers, and in the expense of supplying and maintaining the required number of diapers.

The present invention, therefore, has for its principal object, the provision of a portable urinal that may be fitted to the infant to receive and collect all liquids and thereby reclude the necessity for the majority of diapers employed on an infant.

,It is a further objective of the invention to provide a device that will fit snugly to the infant without binding the body to interfere with movement thereof or with the internal organs of the body.

It is another object of the invention to provide a device of the type described that includes a receptacle for containing an absorbent material which may be readily opened and sealed for the replacement of the material.

It is still another object Of the invention to provide in a device of the type described an absorbent padding that is formed in a plurality of separate members to accommodate relative movement therebetween to conform to the shape of the body.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide a device of the type described that comprises simplicity of design, economy of construction and efficiency of operation.

The foregoing objects, and others ancillary thereto, are preferably accomplished, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, by a loin member having a ringlike bearing portion for surrounding the organ of the infant and having an opening within the ring member into a liquid-proof receptacle. An elastic belt is connected .to the front of the loin member to extend upwardly over the hips of the infant and around its back, and similar elastic straps extend from the rear of the loin member rearwardly and outwardly through "the crotch and upwardly around its thighs to be adjustably connected to thebelt at a point adjacent the front of the hips. By this arrangement the device is retained snugly in a position on the infant without restricting the 2 infants movement or creating pressure upon its stomach or other sensitive portions of the body.

The receptacle is preferably of a triangular shape having a closure at its top to permit insertion or withdrawal of absorbent material. This closure may comprise any desirable form such as overlapping folds or rolls and may be sealed by snap fasteners, a zipper or the like. The absorbent material may preferably be in the form of cylindrical or rolled pads of which preferably at least four may be loosely arranged in more or less side-by-side relationship within the receptacle. This form of the absorbent material permits the deformation of the individual rolls to conform to the infants body and more readily breaks under compression upon movement of the legs by the infant.

Obviously, for universal use the loin member must assume different forms in accordance with the sex of the child. The device for the female infant comprises a semi-circular collar extending outwardly from the ring member and this collar is surmounted by a flexible extension of the loin member to form a resilient brace for retaining the ring in snug contact with the body. This collar is preferably formed of a semi-stiff elastic material, such as rubber, and is split through its depth centrally of its rear portion to define laterally positioned resilient arms for bearing on the rear extension of the loin member. In addition, the cleft in the collar accommodates the material connecting the ring with the receptacle to form this material in a fold defining a channel extending from the rear edge of the ring to the bottom of the receptacle.

In the device for the male infant, the rear edge of the loin member terminates substantially at the periphery of the ring portion so that the ring portion may bear against the body immediately around the urinary organ but above the pendancy thereof so as to preclude binding on the latter portion.

The novel features that are considered characteristic of the invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its organization and its method of operation, together with additional objectsand advantages thereof, will best be understood from the following description of specific embodimentswhen read in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference characters indicate like parts throughout and in which:

Fig. 1 is a view in perspective of a portable urinal in accordance with the present invention 3 and particularly adapted for use on a female child,

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary side view in elevation of a child having the device mounted thereon,

Fig. 3 is a front view of a child having the device mounted thereon, the receptacle being removed to better illustrate the fitting of the device on the child,

Fig. 4 is a side view in elevation of the loin member and receptacle in relaxed position,

Fig. 5 is a side view in elevation similar to Fig. 4 but with the device mounted on the child,

Fig. 6 is a rear view in elevation of the loin member and receptacle,

Fig. 'l is a front view in elevation of an open receptacle,

Fig. 8 is a view in perspective of the receptacle shown in Fig. 7 but in partially closed position,

Fig. 9 is a view in perspective of an absorbent member,

Figs. 10 and 11 are front views in elevation of modified receptacles,

Fig. 12 is a view in perspective of a device adapted for a male infant,

Fig. 13 is a fragmentary side view in elevation of a child having the device mounted thereon,

Fig. 14 is a front view in elevation of a child having a device mounted thereon but with the receptacle removed to show the fitting of the device, and

Fig. 15 is an enlarged fragmentary side view of the device mounted on a child.

Referring now to the drawings, and specifically to Fig. 1, the present invention comprises an inwardly protruding loin or body member I! including a ring 2 of semi-stiff elastic or resilient material and to which is secured at its front edge a soft flexible sheeting 3 for forming the front of the loin member. A soft flexible liquidproof material such as rubber sheeting is secured to the inner periphery of the ring .2 to form a diaphragm-like portion 4 which terminates centrally thereof in an elongated slit 4 which opens into an enclosure 5 which extends forwardly or outwardly to a receptacle 6. The ring 2 protrudes inwardly from sheet 3 towards the receptacle 6.

A semi-circular collar I is secured to the rear portion of the ring 2 to extend outwardly toward the receptacle 6 and said collar I is split to form a cleft 8 centrally of the collar and extending to the rear point of the ring 2. The cleft 8 divides the collar 1 into two substantially triangular arms I lar I are rolled or enlarged to form stiifeners 9. This collar 1' is formed of a semi-stiff sheet material such as rubber, which is collapsible under pressure but is sufficiently stiff to resiliently support the ring 2.

A V-shaped strap Ill straddles the enclosure 5 to extend forwardly to be secured to the outerside of the front sheet 3 and extend to the front corners thereof. The arms II' of this strap I0 underlie the stiffened edges 9 of the arms I, and through them, support the ring 2. A suitable fastener I2, such as a snap fastener, is secured to the corners of the sheet 3, including the extremities of the arms II, and a plurality of fasteners I3 are arranged longitudinally on the apex of the V-shaped strap I D.

A belt I4 is provided, on the inside of its ends 155, with a plurality of fastener elements I6 to cooperate with the fasteners I2 on the front corand the outer edges of these arms, corresponding to the periphery of the colners of the sheet 3, thereby enabling adjustment of the size of the belt I4. An elastic strap 61 is provided with a fastening element I8 centrally thereof to cooperate with one of the fasteners It on the apex of the V-shaped strap for securing the strap [1 thereto. A plurality of fastening elements 19 are secured to the ends of the strap I! to selectively cooperate with one of a plurality of fastening elements 20 secured to the outside of the belt I4 and adjacent the ends thereof.

By this arrangement, this device may be snugly retained in position on an infant as best shown in Figures 2 and 3. Referring to Fig. 2, it will be seen that the loin element I is fitted to the rent of the crotch and that the belt I4 extends from the front corners of the element I upwardly in front of and over the hips and around the back and waist of the infant and thus follows the natural contours of the body without binding the stomach as is the case in an ordinary belt. In addition the straps IT extend outward ly beneath the buttocks and up over the thighs to be fastened to the belt I 4 in front of the point of the hips. As best shown in Fig. 3, the loin element extends into the front portion of the crotch so that the strap I'I, when secured to the apex of the V-shaped straps I 3, will exert a tension on the rear point of the loin member I to retain it in position.

The assembled loin element I and receptacle 6 are shown in relaxed position in Fig. 4 whereas these elements are shown in fitted position in Fig. 5. As indicated in Fig. 3 the loin element l is fitted in the front of the crotch with the ring member 2 surrounding the protruding portions of the urinary organ of the infant. It will be appreciated, with respect to the female infant, there is some difficulty in retaining the device in proper position due to the fact that the protrusion of the female organ is relatively minor. In accordance with the present invention however, the ring 2 surrounds and nests the organ and is retained in snug contact with the body by means of the resilient arms I in cooperation with the V-shaped strap I0, as best shown in Figure 5.

The front portion of the loin element l and consequently the front portion of the ring 2 will lie snugly against the body due to the tension of the belt Ill and sheet 3, so that the problem resolves itself into retaining the rear portion of the ring 2 in snug contact with the body. The strap ll when secured to the apex of the V- shaped strap it will tend to hold the ring 2 against the body but there may be some looseness at the rear edge portion of the ring 2 due to the conformation of the body. The arms I definitely overcome this looseness by forming resilient supports between the V-shaped strap I I] and the ring 2. 7

Thus, the V-shaped strap I 0 extends downwardly around and beneath the edges 9 of the arms 7 and then rearwardly and slightly upwardly into connection with the strap I'I. Therefore, the strap It tends to lift the arms I which in turn resiliently force the ring 2 upwardly into snug contact with the body. The stiffened edges 9 prevent the collapse of the flexible or resilient arms l and provide a firm contact with the strap I 5) whereas the web portions of the arms i are sufliciently flexible to be compressed under the tension of the strap support the ring 2.

Obviously, the collar '1 need not be split to I i] to resiliently form the cleft 8 in order to provide the supporting function just described. It is preferred, however, that it be divided into the separate arms 1' to increase its resiliency of support and to create the V-shaped cleft 8 which provides an opening to receive the adjacent portion of the material forming the enclosure 5. The cleft 8 defines a fold 2| in the walls of the closure 5 which forms a channel directly from the opening 4' in the diaphragm portion 4 to the bottom of the receptacle 8 and thereby provides a liquid passage from the lowermost portion of the sealing ring 2 into the receptacle.

The receptacle 6 itself is preferably in the form of a triangular container composed of liquid-proof material such as soft rubber sheeting. As shown in Figures 7 and 8 the receptacle may comprise a bag which is open on its top and has a flap 26 extending upwardly from the rear wall of the bag. A pair of cooperating snap fasteners 21 and 21 are mounted in the corners of the flap 26 so that the corner portions ma be folded triangularly into overlapping relationship to form flaps 26', and be secured together by the cooperating fasteners 2'I-21' and thereby form a pointed flap 2611.

In addition, a fastener 28 is secured on the front wall of the bag and a cooperating fastener 28' is secured centrally of the flap 26. The corner flaps 26 are folded so as to leave the fastener 28 exposed, as indicated in dotted line in Fig. 7 and shown in full line in Fig. 8. Therefore, the flap 26a may be folded over the top of the bag and down over the front wall thereof and secured by cooperation of the fasteners 28-28, as indicated in dotted line in Fig. 8.

Of course, any alternative structure may be employed and two modifications of the receptacle are shown in Figs. 10 and 11. According to the modification shown in Fig. 10, the upper portion of the bag, including the flap 26, are rolled down to the top of the bag to form a coil 30, and a pair of straps iii are secured to the rear wall of the bag to extend over the coil 30 and be secured to the front wall of the bag by suitable fasteners 32.

According to the modification shown in Fig. 11, the top of the bag is closed and a slit opening 35, across the front of the bag, may be. closed by a zipper fastener 36.

As previously stated, an absorbent material is preferably inserted in the bag or receptacle to take up the liquid as it is supplied to the receptacle. While this absorbent material may be in any suitable form, it preferably comprises a plurality of rolls or cylindrical sticks 40, as shown in Fig. 9. Any desired number of these rolls #0 may be employed but it has been found that about four of these rolls are sufficient to accomplish the desired functions. These separate rolls 40 have an advantage over a single pad or wad of material in that they are subject to movement relative to each other and may be readily deformed to accommodate the body structure or movement by the child in bending or working its legs.

A device for use on male infants is basically similar to that previously described in that, as best shown in Fig. 12, it comprises a loin element I having a ring 2 which has a diaphragm-like portion 4 surrounding an opening 4" extending into the enclosure 5, which is connected to the receptacle 5. A belt I4 may be removably secured to the front corners of the element l by fastening members IE on its front ends l5 and to cooperate with fasteners l2 the front can ners of the element I. In lieu of the single strap I1, a pair of straps H are connected to the rear corners of the element l and have fasteners [9 on their ends to cooperate with fasteners 20 on the belt M.

The element l differs from the element l in that it is of a general rectangular shape with its front edge 50 extending but a short distance beyond the front of the ring 2 whereas its rear edge 5| is adjacent the rear edge of the ring 2 and practically coincides therewith. In addition, the side edges 52 are curved inwardly to fit around the inside of the thighs. The member I is formed to fit snugly around the urinary organ without extending upwardly over the loin for any substantial degree, and without extending downwardly or rearwardly over the pendency to create any pressure thereon. In order to obtain the desired fit, the opening 4" is circular and is located at the rear of the diaphragm adjacent the rear edges of the ring 2 so as to receive the organ which may extend through the enclosure 5 and even into the receptacle 6 and between the rolls 40.

As shown in Figs. 13 and 14 the device is fitted in substantially the same manner as previously described. The exact fit of the device is shown in Fig. 15 wherein it will be seen that the ring 2 closely surrounds the organ and the rear edge '5! lies between the organ and the pendency whereas the upper edge 50 is spaced slightly above the organ but does not extend upwardly to bear on the loin or stomach. By this arrangement there is no harmful pressure upon any portion of the body but the device is retained snugly in position with the ring 2 forming its liquidproof seal in contact with the body.

Although certain specific embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, it is obvious that many modifications thereof are possible. and described as for use on infants, it is readily evident that it is equally applicable to adults. The invention, therefore, is not to be restricted except insofar as is necessitated by the prior art and by the spirit of the appended claims.

What we claim as new is:

1. A portable urinal comprising a body portion for fitting to the loin of a wearer, said body portion having a resilient ring protruding from its inner surface surrounding the urinary organ of the wearer and for forming a liquid proof seal with the wearers body, a diaphragm of soft liquid proof material spanning said ring and having an opening in its central portion, a liquid proof receptacle having an opening in its rear wall, a liquid proof enclosure connecting said recept-acle and diaphragm openings, and means for supporting said body portion in position on a wearer.

2. A device as defined in claim 1 wherein said body portion is in the general form of a triangle with the ring forming the apex thereof, the opening in said diaphragm being in the form of a slit extending substantially from the front portion of said ring to the rear portion thereof, a semicircular resilient collar extends outwardly from the rear portion of said ring and a V-shaped strap straddles said connecting enclosure and has the ends of its arms attached to said body portion in front of said ring and its apex extending rearwardly and connected to said supporting means, the arms of said strap underlying and supporting the sides of said ring and the side portions of Whereas, the invention has been shownsaid'colla'r' whereby said collar resiliently said r ing and biases the rear por tioh there of into sealing contact with the wearer,

3. Adevice'as defined 'in 'claiin2, wherein the collar is split centrally to the rear edge of said ring to define two resilient arms for support by said strap arms, the' oute'r strap contacting edges of said collar arms being stiffened 'to provide stable strap bearing portions, the Web portions of said arms being resilient to support said ring in sealing contact without undue ipressure on the wearer,'said split in said collar forming a cleft to receive the adjacent material of said connecting enclosure and defining a channel therein. from the rear'of said diaphragm opening to the bottom of said receptacle opening.

'4. A device'as defined 'in'claim 1 wherein the body portion is of a general rectangular shape and the ring is at the rear portion thereof with its rear edge substantially coinciding with the rear edge of said body portion, the front edge of said body portion being spaced but slightly from the front of said ring, and saiddiaphragm openi-ng being at the rear thereof and substantially circular in shape.

5-. LA device asset forth in claim 1 wherein the receptacle has an opening at the top thereof and is provided with closure means for said top opening, and absorbent material is removably positioned in said receptacle.

6, A'device'as-set forth in claim 1 wherein the receptacle has an opening at the top thereof and is provided withclosure means for said 'topopening, and absorbent material is removably positioned in said receptacle, said absorbent material comprising a plurality of individual rolls in sideby-sid'e relationship in said receptacle.

7. A device asset forth in claim 1 wherein'said body portion is provided with fasteners at its front and rear corners'and'said supporting means includes a belt havingmeans at its ends to adjustably cooperate with said front fasteners to be secured-to the front of said body portion-and extend upwardly in'front'of andover the hips-and around the backof the wearer, saidbelthaving additional fastening means adjacent its ends, and strap means to cooperate with said rear fasteners and extend rearwardly and outwardly through the crotch and beneath and around the buttocks and up over the hips of the wearer, said'strap means having means at its ends to adjustably cooperate with said additional 'fa'stn-ing-mea'nsons'aid belt to permit a connection therebetweenat a point in 'front of the hiis of the wearer.

8. A reee taele for-a portable urinal, 'Whichreceptacle comprises a bag formed of soft -liquid proof material in a ge'ne'ral'ly triangular shape and having an op'en top and a squared flap extending from "its rear wall, cooperating fastening means atthe'cbrners of said flap to permit the securing together-of said corners when they,'with a portion of the bag proper, are triangulafly folded toward ea'choth'er, to form a pointed flap, and cooperating fastening means centrally'of said squared flap to be at the point of said pointed fiap'arid on the front Wall of said bag tosecure said pointed fia'p when it 'is folded, with the top of t'he 'ba'g proper, down onto the front wall to seal the to'p-of said bag.

9. A receptacle for aportable urinal, which rec'eptaele comprises a bag formed of soft liquid proof nr'aitei lal in a generally triangular shape and having an open top capable of being coiled, a plurality of straps secured to one wall of said bag and below thetop thereof but extending upwardly to overlie said top when it is coiled, fastening means on the e'n'ds'of said straps andcooperating fastening means on the opposite Wall of said bag tocoop'erate with said strap fastening means for securing said straps when they overlie the coiled top.

10. A receptacle for a portable urinal, which receptacle comprises a bag formed of soft liquid proof material in a generally triangular shape, a slit opening ma wall of said bag adjacent the top thereof, and a Zipper fastener for closing said Slit.

LOUIS P. RIBEIRO. HASEL W. RIBE'IRO.

REFERENCES CITED Number 

